ilf! 


Missionary  Series.] 


[No.  6. 


THE 


JAPANESE  DOOR. 


BY 


REV.  C.  H.  FOWLER,  D.D. 


NEW  YORK : 

PHILLIPS  & HUNT. 
CINCINNATI : 
WALDEN  & STOWE. 
i88i. 


Missionary  Series.]  [No.  6. 


THE 


JAPAK'ESE  BOOK. 


“ The  Land  of  the  Rising  Sun  ” is  in  the 
eye  of  Christendom.  Since  the  prayer  of  the 
two  Japanese  converts  in  Yok(|}iama  in  18'72, 
in  a prayer-meeting,  where  it  seemed  to  the 
weeping  sailors  and  weeping  sea-captains  that 
the  cry  for  Japan  must  enter  the  ear  of  God 
from  these  sorrowing  converts,  there  has  been 
a “ strange  warming  ” of  the  Christian  heart 
toward  J apan.  Ask  any  intelligent  man  where 
lies  the  field  most  thoroughly  ready  for  the 
harvest,  and  he  will  answer,  “ In  the  Mikado’s 
Empire.” 


The  Japanese  Door. 


3 


St,  Paul  slept  on  the  border  of  Asia  with 
his  face  toward  Europe,  and  his  inspired  zeal 
took  on  a personal  form ; and  he  saw  a man 
from  Macedonia  standing  before  him  and  say- 
ing, “ Come  over  into  Macedonia  and  help  us.” 
The  thoughtful  believer  can  hardly  enter  any 
closet  of  prayer  anywhere  in  Christendom, 
and  not  see  a man  from  Japan  beckoning,  and 
hear  him  say,  “ Come  over  and  help  us.” 

Japan  has  a territory  more  than  three  times 
as  large  as  the  State  of  New  York,  and  a pop- 
ulation nearly  as  large  as  that  of  France  or  of 
Great  Britain,  It  is  a land  of  peculiar  inter- 
est. Its  climate  is  not  surpassed,  if  equaled, 
anywhere  in  the  world.  Its  soil  is  not  espe- 
cially productive.  Most  of  its  vegetables  bear 
foreign  names,  and  speak  of  the  enterprise  of 
the  people  rather  than  of  the  fertility  of  the 
soil.  Its  endless  sea-coast  and  countless  bays 
and  inlets  and  clustering  islands  have  fur- 
nished food  for  a more  hardy  people  than 
would  otherwise  be  expected  so  far  south. 

Japan  has  gold  in  Salo  Island.  Coal  and 
iron  are  quite  well  distributed.  Sulphur 

. No.  6. 


4 


The  Japanese  Dook. 


abounds.  Ambergris  is  found  on  some  of  her 
shores.  She  enjoys  the  luxury  of  many  ther- 
mal and  mineral  springs. 

CHABACTEE  OF  THE  PEOPLE. 

Japan  lies  between  America  and  Asia,  and 
the  character  of  the  people  holds  the  same  po- 
sition in  the  moral  chart  of  the  earth.  A 
careful  study  of  the  habits,  manners,  customs, 
and  laws  of  heathen  peoples  will  place  Japan 
higher  up  and  nearer  to  civilization  than  any 
other  distinctively  heathen  people.  Of  course^ 
this  comparison  must  eliminate  the  influence 
of  the  English  rule  in  India,  and  take  the  na- 
tives as  heathenism  leaves  them. 

One  who  has  inquired  his  way  of  a stranger 
and  a native  in  the  streets  of  London  and  of 
Paris,  can  understand  the  difference  in  polite- 
ness and  gentleness  of  manner  between  the 
average  Anglo-Saxon  and  the  average  Japa- 
nese. The  Japanese  are  naturally  polite,  sym- 
pathetic, kindly,  gentle,  having  many  of  the 
traits  that  give  the  Frenchman  such  a wel- 
come into  the  society  of  the  world. 

No.  6. 


The  Japanese  Door. 


5 


Mr.  E.  W.  Clark,  long  a teacker  in  Jai)an, 
says  of  the  people  : “ They  certainly  exceed 
ns  in  politeness,  gentleness,  obedience  to  par- 
ents and  superiors,  and  in  social  manners  are 
our  peers.  They  have  also  a culture  and  na- 
tive refinement  that  surprises  the  foreigner, 
and  their  sense  of  honor  is  at  least  equal  to 
that  of  the  average  American.”  Dr.  Maclay 
cannot  say  too  much  for  their  sense  of  honor. 

Mr.  Griifis,  in  his  “Mikado’s  Empire,”  (p. 
509,)  says  : 

“ In  moral  character  the  average  Japanese 
is  frank,  honest,  faithful,  kind,  gentle,  cour- 
teoi;s,  confiding,  affectionate,  filial,  loyal. 
Love  of  truth  for  its  own  sake,  chastity,  tem- 
perance, are  not  characteristic  virtues.  A 
high,  almost  painful,  sense  of  honor  is  culti- 
vated by  the  Samurai.  In  spirit  the  average 
artisan  and  farmer  is  a sheep.  In  intellectual 
capacity  the  actual  merchant  is  mean,  and  in 
moral  character  low.  He  is  beneath  the 
Chinaman  in  this  respect.  The  male  Japanese 
is  far  less  overbearing  and  more  chivalrous  to 
women  than  any  other  Asiatic.  In  political 

^No.  6. 


6 


The  Japanese  Dook. 


knowledge  or  gregarious  ability  the  country- 
man is  a baby,  and  the  city  artisan  a boy. 
The  peasant  is  a pronounced  pagan,  with  su- 
perstition ingrained  and  dyed  into  the  veiy 
finest  fiber  of  his  nature.” 

The  Government  seeks  to  act  the  part  of  a 
parent  with  a child  that  cannot  be  trusted 
out  of  sight.  “ The  whereabouts  of  ninety- 
nine  hundredths  of  all  the  citizens  during  any 
given  past  twenty-four  hours  can  be  told  with 
great  certainty.”  The  Government  uses  this 
minute  oversight  or  espionage  for  the  protec- 
tion of  the  good  name  of  Japan  in  foreign 
lands.  “No  Japanese  are  ever  allowed  to  go 
abroad  except  as  responsible,  competent,  and 
respectable  citizens,  who  will  do  credit  to  their 
country.” 

Be  it  remembered  that  Japan  has  been 
steadily  opposed  to  slavery.  Her  authors 
condemn  the  crime  in  unsparing  terms.  Some 
Japanese  coolies  were  sent  to  California  and 
Hawaii.  Among  the  first  things  done  by  the 
Mikado’s  Government  after  the  Restoration 
was  the  sending  of  an  official,  who  was  to  re- 

No.  6. 


The  Japanese  Door. 


7 


turn  with  these  slaves  to  their  homes,  and  who 
did  secure  this  result.  It  is  not  strange  that 
the  Mikado  could  move,  as  he  did  in  June, 
1872,  unveiled  among  his  people,  though  this 
had  not  been  done  by  any  of  his  predecessors 
for  twelve  hundred  years,  and  see  every- 
whei’e  only  signs  of  popular  joy  and  receive 
only  expressions  of  polite  reverence.  We 
are  prepared  to  hear  that  this  people  venerate 
the  memory  of  the  artist,  Nomo-no-Tsukune, 
who  in  A.  D.  3 introduced  into  the  ceremony 
of  burying  the  wife  and  seiwants  with  the 
body  of  the  deceased  husband  and  master  the 
custom  of  burying  “ clay  images  ” instead  of 
the  living  friends.  The  Ja23anese  art  was 
born  of  kindliness  while  the  Prophet  of 
Nazareth  was  playing  bare-footed  on  the  hill- 
side back  of  Josejdi’s  shop.  Surely  this  must 
be  unusually  good  ground  in  which  to  sow 
the  seed  of  the  kingdom. 

THE  DARK  SIDE. 

We  have  seen  the  best  side  of  the  Jajianese. 
They  put  their  best  foot  forward.  But  they 


8 


The  Japanese  Dook. 


have  a worst  side.  Mr.  Griffis,  who  is  so 
warmly  and  intelligently  the  friend  of  the 
Japanese,  as  seen  in  every  page  of  his  careful 
work,  “ The  Mikado’s  Empire,”  gives  us  some 
glimpses  at  the  darker  side.  He  says,  (page 
568  :) 

“ The  establishment  of  the  press  has  also  ex- 
posed the  fact  that  in  these  isles  of  the  blest,  in 
which  some  foreigners  supposed  existed  only 
innocence,  gentleness,  or  good-mannered  pov- 
erty, reeks  every  species  of  moral  filth,  abom- 
ination, crime,  and  corruption.  To  scan  the 
columns  of  an  average  Japanese  newspaper 
is  to  read  a tale  of  horror  and  nastiness  that 
puts  to  the  blush  the  obscene  calendars  in 
the  sensational  dailies  and  illustrated  ‘ Police 
Gazette  ’ of  New  York,  which  find  their  way 
only  too  plentifully  into  the  editorial  rooms 
of  Japanese  cities.  As  one  measure  of  crime 
in  Dai  Nippon,  I believe  the  number  of  exe- 
cutions and  deaths  in  the  native  prisons  aver- 
ages three  thousand  per  annum.  There  is 
scarcely  a form  of  sin  known  to  Sodom, 
Greece,  Rome,  or  India,  but  has  been  or  is 

No.  C. 


The  Japanese  Door. 


9 


practiced  in  Japan,  which  has  sore  need  of 
moral  renovation.” 

Their  horrible  and  revolting  modes  of  tor- 
ture and  punishment  in  the  past  are  unequaled 
in  the  annals  of  any  other  known  people.  W e 
conclude  with  Griffis,  that  “ the  Japanese  are 
simply  human — no  better,  no  worse,  than  man- 
kind outside.”  What  we  need,  they  need. 
The  power  that  can  regenerate  and  save  us 
can  regenerate  and  save  them, 

WOMAN  IN  JAPAN. 

The  test  of  a civilization  is  the  treatment 
of  woman.  Find  her  round  on  the  ladder, 
and  you  can  count  all  the  libraries,  know 
all  the  liberties,  judge  all  the  laws,  and  ex- 
plore all  the  homes,  without  taking  another 
step.  Measured  by  this  standard,  Japan 
compares  well  with  any  other  heathen  nation. 
It  is  true  that  her  most  influential  religion^ 
Buddhism,  denies  to  woman  a soul,  except  as 
she  may,  in  the  transmigrations  of  the  future, 
appear  as  a man,  and  thus  become  a possible 

hek  to  heaven  and  immortality  ; yet  nine  of 

No.  6. 


10  The  Japanese  Door. 

her  one  hundred  and  twenty-three  sovereigns 
have  been  women. 

In  the  awakening  of  Japan  some  of  her  best 
men  have  defied  old  prejudices  and  are  giv- 
ing honor  to  their  wives,  so  that  they  are  no 
longer  ashamed  to  be  seen  in  public  with 
them.  In  the  Christian  churches  in  Japan 
families  sit  together  in  the  public  congrega- 
tions— a most  amazing  spectacle  in  Asia. 
Silk  reeling  machinery  and  a wider  belt  of 
tea-growing  gi’ound  have  multiplied  woman’s 
chances  for  self-support  and  her  virtues. 
Schemes,  as  wide  as  the  Empire,  for  the  edu- 
cation of  girls  in  common  and  high  schools 
are  received  with  great  favoi’. 

No  woman’s  feet  are  ever  bound  in  Japan. 
She  has  nearly  as  much  liberty  to  walk  and 
visit  as  in  America.  Chastity  is  quite  a com- 
mon virtue.  But  the  spiritual  teaching  of 
Christ  is  unknown.  Sin  merely  in  the  thought 
is  an  unknown  idea  ; they  apprehend  it  only 
in  the  outward  act.  There  is  in  every  home 
pretending  to  respectability  what  is  called  a 
“Japanese  Ladies’  Library,”  a number  of 

No.  6. 


The  Japanese  Dook. 


11 


books  bound  together.  It  is  something  like 
binding  together  the  Bible,  “ Ladies’  Letter 
Writer,”  “Guide  to  Etiquette,”  “Hannah 
More,”  “ Queens  of  England,”  and  an  almanac, 
with  teachings  on  household  economy.  All 
this  has  promise  for  the  future. 

Mothers  teach  their  children  to  love  their 
country.  They  are  patriots.  The  Chinese 
think  patriotism,  or  interest  in  j^ublic  affairs, 
almost  an  offense.  The  officers  are  to  care 
for  the  Government.  The  people  are  indif- 
ferent. They  are  easily  governed  so  long  as 
no  public  peril  makes  the  Government  need 
the  aid  of  the  people.  In  emergencies  this 
indifference  is  perilous.  But  in  Japan  every 
child  is  taught  the  heroic  histories  of  his 
country.  This  work  of  instruction,  which  is 
part  of  a mother’s  duty,  together  with  reading 
the  “ Ladies’  Library,”  has  elevated  the  tyjje 
of  Japanese  women. 

In  exquisite  taste  for  the  beautiful  and  be- 
coming in  dress  and  personal  adornment,  and 
in  the  graces  of  etiquette  and  female  pro- 
prieties, the  women  of  Japan  are  not  inferior 

No.  6. 


12 


The  Japanese  Door. 


to  the  women  of  Western  nations,  Griffis 
says,  (p.  559  :) 

“ No  ladies  excel  the  Japanese  in  that  innate 
love  of  beauty,  order,  neatness,  household 
adornment  and  management,  and  the  ameni- 
ties of  dress  and  etiquette  as  prescribed  by 
their  own  standard.  In  maternal  affection, 
tenderness,  anxiety,  patience,  and  long-suffer- 
ing, the  Japanese  mothers  need  fear  no  com- 
parison. . . . As  educators  of  their  children 
they  are  peers  to  the  mothers  of  any  civiliza- 
tion in  the  care  and  minuteness  of  their  train- 
ing of,  and  affectionate  tenderness  and  self- 
sacrificing  devotion  to,  their  offspring  within 
the  limits  of  their  light  and  hnowledgeP 

With  such  mothers  it  is  not  difficult  to 
believe  Griffis  when  he  says,  (p.  553  :) 

“ The  custodian  of  the  divine  regalia  is  a 
virgin  priestess.  The  chief  deity  in  their 
mythology  is  a woman.  Japanese  women, 
by  their  wit  and  wisdom,  made  their  native 
tongue  a literary  language.  In  literature, 
art,  poetry,  song,  the  names  of  women  are 

among  the  most  brilliant  of  those  on  the  long 

No.  6. 


The  Japanese  Dooe. 


13 


roll  of  fame  and  honor  on  whose  brows  the 
Japanese,  at  least,  have  placed  the  fadeless 
chaplet  of  renown.  Their  memory  is  still  kept 
green  hy  recitation,  quotation,  reading,  and 
inscription  on  screen,  roll,  memorial-stone, 
wall,  fan,  cup,  and  those  exquisite  works  of 
art  that  delight  even  alien  admirers,  even 
east  and  west  of  the  Pacific.” 

This  same  writer  informs  us  that,  in  spite 
of  all  these  noble  qualities,  the  supreme  prin- 
ciple in  Japanese  life,  filial  obedience, 

is  the  snare  and  ruin  of  woman.  At  the  com- 
mand of  her  father  she  goes,  without  a mur- 
mur, to  a life  of  sorrow  and  sin,  which  she 
loathes.  She  steps  forward  to  meet  every 
misery,  and  sickening  degradation,  and  pre- 
mature age,  and  untimely  death,  that  her 
father  may  profit  by  her  woe. 

In  this  respect  Japan  sinks  down  to  a level 
with  China,  and  we  cannot  avoid  thinking  of 
the  poor  outcast  Chinese  woman  who  threw 
herself  into  the  hay  in  San  Francisco.  When 
she  was  fished  out  by  the  police,  and  taken 
to  the  station,  she  refused  to  speak  a word. 

No.  6. 


14 


The  Japanese  Dook. 


Finally  she  said,  “ If  yoti  have  a Jesus’  man, 
I will  talk  to  him.”  The  police  sent  for  Dr. 
Gibson.  She  said  to  him,  “ You  know  what 
I am.  If  you  send  me  hack  to  this  life  I will 
jump  into  the  bay  again.  My  father  and 
mother  sold  me  into  this  life.  You  must  not 
send  me  back  to  it.”  Dr.  Gibson  took  her  to 
his  home,  and  saved  her.  While  heathen 
Japan  has  many  virtues,  she  has  great  need  of 
Him  who  cleanses  the  very  thoughts,  and 
claims  all  children,  girls  as  well  as  boys,  for 
himself. 

eeligious  peejtjdices  in  japan. 

Christianity  got  a bad  start  in  Japan.  In 
the  sixteenth  century  the  Jesuits  came  with 
the  first  Europeans,  and  brought  their  in- 
trigues and  deceptions  and  falsehoods.  They 
undertook  revolution.  They  were  exposed, 
defeated,  and  expelled.  Native  Christians 
were  slain.  The  “ foreign  religion  ” was  pro- 
hibited. “Jesu  followers”  were  identified 
with  rebels,  thieves,  and  murderers.  The 
very  name  of  Christianity  was  made  a syn- 

No.  6. 


The  Japanese  Door. 


15 


onym  for  sin,  and  children  were  tanght  to 
trample  upon  the  cross.  It  is  the  old  story 
repeated  in  every  nation—whatever  the  apos- 
tate Church  touches  she  curses.  Jesus  is 
crucified  continually  in  the  house  of  his  pre- 
tended friends. 

In  the  heart  of  Tokio,  the  capital  of  Japan, 
is  the  celebrated  Japan  Bridge  from  which  all 
the  great  roads  of  the  Empire  are  said  to  be 
measured.  It  is  an  old  hump-backed  heap  of 
fire-wood  ; but  it  is  one  center,  near  which 
laws  and  decrees  were  bulletined.  Within  a 
decade  one  would  read  on  “Board  No.  1,” 
“The  evil  sect  called  Christians  is  strictly 
prohibited.  Suspicious  persons  should  be  re- 
ported to  the  proper  otficers,  and  rewards  Avill 
be  given.”  Signed,  Dai  Jo.  Kuan,  March  24, 
April  22,  1868. 

By  the  side  of  this  Board  No.  1 are  Boards 
Nos.  2 and  3,  on  which  insurrection  is  defined 
and  forbidden,  and  “ murder,  arson,  and  rob- 
bery ” are  prohibited.  Christianity  once 
more  dying  between  thieves  ! This  is  the 
bad  start  Christianity  received  in  Japan  from 

No.  6. 


16 


The  Japanese  Dooe. 


the  Jesuits.  . Even  as  late  as  1872  some  of 
the  Japanese  students  in  the  Bible  classes 
said,  “We  are  astonished  to  find  Christianity- 
such  a good  thing,  so  pure  and  exalted  in  its 
teachings.  We  have  been  taught  from  child- 
hood that  it  is  evil  and  corrupt.” 

These  convictions  have  aided  in  keeping 
the  people  in  their  old  temples,  so  noisy,  so 
dirty,  so  holy.  Pigeons,  priests,  and  ponies, 
(all  wanting  food,)  lanterns,  shrines,  idols, 
spit-balls,  (prayers  written,  rolled  up  in  the 
mouth,  then  thrown  at  the  idol,  to  be  an- 
swered if  they  stick,)  smells,  dust,  dirt,  nasti- 
ness, and  holiness — all  needing  cleansing ; 
these  make  up  the  furniture  of  a heathen 
temple.  Yet  it  is  not  identified  with  the 
rapacity,  treachery,  and  cruelty  of  Jesuitism. 
Christianity  has  had  to  confront  these  deep 
prejudices,  but  she  is  rapidly  gaining  the 
victory. 

HUNGEE  FOE  WESTEEN  CIVILIZATION. 

Ye  have  heard  that  it  hath  been  said  by 
them  in  old  time,  A nation  shall  be  born  in 

No.  6. 


The  Japanese  Door.  17 

a day;  verily  I say  unto  you,  this  promise 
seems  almost  literally  fulfilled  in  Japan.  The 
signs  of  life  are  innumerable.  That  great 
human  hive  is  stirred  almost  to  the  last  drone. 
The  honey  of  knowledge  is  being  gathered 
from  every  field  of  the  civilized  world.  Tel- 
egraph lines  are  running  from  Tokio  to  near- 
ly every  island  and  town  in  the  Empire.  The 
whistle  of  the  iron  horse  is  disturbing  the 
dreams  of  their  ancient  idols.  Engines,  with 
trains  loaded  with  Western  ideas  and  liber- 
ties and  faiths,  are  running  from  Yokohama 
to  Tokio.  They  run  from  Kobe  to  Lake 
Bima,  and  are  soon  to  reach  on  to  Yokohama. 
The  voice  of  the  telephone  is  heard  in  the 
awakened  ear  of  Japan.  Building  their  own 
railroads,  running  their  own  engines,  sending 
their  own  telegrams,  managing  their  own 
Boai’ds  of  Trade,  the  awakened  Japanese  are 
mortally  to  be  oifended  to  he  called  “ Asiatic, 
idolatrous,  and  despotic.”  They  have  turned 
their  hacks  on  Asia,  and  stand  with  their 
faces  toward  America.  They  are  outgrow- 
ing their  idolatry,  and  are  developing  a con- 

No.  6. 


18 


The  Japanese  Dooe. 


stitutional  government.  The  stride  upward 
has  been  marvelous  ever  since  Commodore 
Perry  opened  up  Japan  in  1854. 

EDtrCATION. 

The  educational  system  of  Japan  is  very 
far  ahead  of  many  of  the  States  in  our  Re- 
public, and,  when  completed,  it  will  do  credit 
to  the  best  we  have. 

The  Empire  is  divided  into  eight  collegiate 
districts,  in  each  of  which  there  is  to  be  a 
college.  Each  collegiate  district  is  to  have 
32  academies  or  high  schools,  making  256  in 
all.  Each  academical  department  is  to  have 
210  schools.  Thus  the  Empire  is  being  pro- 
vided with  53,760  schools. 

Each  year  the  Government  sends  abroad 
for  education  30  of  her  best  yoimg  men  from 
the  colleges,  to  each  of  whom  she  gives, 
$1,600  per  year.  She  also  sends  150  from 
the  academies,  to  each  of  whom  she  gives 
$1,000  per  year. 

In  the  primary  schools  no  foreign  language 
is  taught,  but  in  the  academies  the  student 

No.  6. 


19 


The  Japanese  Dook. 

f 

may  select  any  three  modern  languages.  The 
administration  of  this  system  is  national,  not 
provincial ; under  the  control  of  a^  central 
department. 

Children  over  six  are  compelled  by  law  to 
attend  school.  Schools  for  girls  are  estab- 
lished. Teachers  are  selected  without  re- 
gard to  sex.  Normal  schools  are  in  the  plan, 
and  are  being  pushed  forward.  Promotion 
through  the  grades  are  made  solely  by  merit. 

It  is  not  strange  that  this  people^who  have 
long  had  the  energy  to  furnish  the  pirates  for 
the  Chinese  waters,  should  now,  under  the 
impulse  of  such  educational  movements,  be 
able  to  maintain  10  daily  newspapers  and  200 
other  periodicals. 

NEW  ENERGIES. 

Bishop  Wiley  gives  us  a good  look  at  the  • 
energies  of  awakened  Japan.  Some  of  the 
figures  which  he  furnishes  are  most  thrilling. 

The  exports  of  Japan  in  1877  amounted  to 
$3,433,847,  and  imports,  $2,978,588.  Duties 
are  charged  both  ways,  and  nearly  all  the 

No.  6. 


20 


The  Japanese  Doob. 


business  is  in  the  bands  of  native  gentlemen. 
The  chief  exports  are  silk,  silk-worms’  eggs, 
cocoons,  ginseng,  cuttle-fish,  pure  gold  and 
silver  coin,  and  rice.  The  principal  imports 
are  cotton  yarn,  cotton  manufactures,  blank- 
ets, manufactured  iron  bars,  kerosene  oil, 
sugar,  woolen  cloth,  watches,  leather,  and 
Mexican  dollars. 

Japan  has  a postal  system  extending  to 
eveiy  city  and  town  in  the  Empire.  She  has 
street  letter-boxes  and  a free  delivery  of 
mail  in  her  cities.  She  has  35,545  miles  of 
mail  routes,  and  3,792  post-offices.  She  has 
money-orders  and  postal  savings-banks.  She 
sent  through  her  post-offices  in  1877,  letters, 
books,  newspapers,  etc.,  47,192,286.  Of  this 
number  25,000,000  were  letters, and  10,000,000 
Avere  native  newspapers.  It  is  impossible  to 
mistake  the  trend  of  all  these  institutions. 

CHBISTIANITY. 

Christianity  is  receiving  a large  share  of 
this  spirit  which  she  is  inspiring.  According 

to  the  latest  authority,  there  are  now  18  Prot- 

No.6. 


The  Japanese  Dook. 


21 


estant  Missionary  Societies  at  work  in  Japan, 
besides  3 Bible  Societies.  The  number  of 
missionaries,  mostly  ordained,  123,  (includ- 
ing the  wives  of  missionaries,  176;)  native 
preachers  and  helpers,  182;  communicants, 
2,912;  schools,  31;  scholars,  1,525.  In  many 
of  the  public  schools,  also,  the  Bible  is  the 
adopted  text-book  on  morals;  and  often  the 
students  will  say  to  the  teacher,  “ Sir,  these 
are  golden  truths,  and  we  thank  you  for 
them;”  or,  “Sir,  please  teach  us  to  pray  by 
ourselves.” 

Even  in  the  midst  of  their  religious  cere- 
monies they  will  often  stop  to  hear  the  Gos- 
pel. In  the  Cyana  mountain  a demon  is  sup- 
posed to  dwell  which  works  all  liaim  to  crops 
and  flocks  and  all  industries.  Occasionally  a 
grand  jJublic  demonstration  is  made  to  drive 
away  evil  spirits  and  appease  the  serpent. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Ballagh,  Avho  built  in  1874  the 
first  Christian  church  in  Japan,  on  one  of  his 
journeys  encountered  one  of  these  demonstra- 
tions. It  was  a long  procession,  dragging 
a huge  cart,  loaded  with  a pagoda-shaped 

No.  G. 


22 


The  Japanese  Book. 


tower  decorated  with  flags  and  streamers,  in 
which  were  dancing  men  wearing  hideous 
masks.  Upon  the  approach  of  the  mission- 
aiy  the  procession  halted,  and  the  drums 
ceased  beating,  and  Mr.  Ballagh  gave  them  a 
Gospel  sermon  on  the  old  serpent,  and  on  the 
seed  of  the  woman.  Many  were  deeply  in- 
terested in  this  good  word. 

Sometimes  a missionary  has  gone  to  a 
Buddhist  temple  and  preached  Jesus  till  the 
worshipers  would  turn  from  their  idols  to 
listen,  and  even  the  priests  would  go  to 
inquire  of  the  missionary  about  this  new 
hope. 

The  Spirit  that  prepares  the  way  for  the 
missionary,  and  gives  his  word  such  power 
that  it  does  not  return  void,  has  gone  out  into 
that  “Land  of  the  Rising  Sun.”  One  young 
man  walked  four  hundred  miles  to  come  to 
our  school  in  Yakohama.  He  became  a 
bright  student.  He  had  been  converted,  and 
called  of  God  to  the  work  of  the  ministry. 
He  will  make  a good  itinerant. 

Another  young  man  saw  in  a native  paper 

No.  6. 


The  Japanese  Door. 


23 


the  advertisement  of  our  school,  and  walked 
one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  to  enter  the 
school.  He  pays  his  own  way.  He  has 
touched  the  hem  of  the  garment.  He  has 
seen  him  who  met  Paul  in  the  desert  near 
Damascus,  and  is  preaching  powerfully  dur- 
ing his  vacations. 

One  man  of  the  military  class,  somewhat 
advanced  in  years,  becoming  dissatisfied  with 
what  he  took  to  be  mistakes  on  the  part  of 
the  Government,  started  for  his  province  for 
the  purpose  of  stirring  up  insurrection.  On 
the  way  he  came  to  a place  where  there  were 
Japanese  Christians.  Thinking  that  the  new 
doctrine  would  aid  his  purposes,  he  began  t6 
attend  their  services  and  study  the  Bible. 
He  soon  saw  his  mistake,  and  was  converted. 
He  now  devotes  himself  and  his  property  to 
the  work  of  preaching  the  Gospel,  and  is  still 
preaching  at  his  own  expense. 

A native  Missionary  Society  has  been  or- 
ganized by  the  Presbyterians.  The  Japanese 
Christians,  believing  it  to  be  their  duty  to 
give  as  freely  as  they  have  received,  have  set 

No.  6. 


24 


Tpie  Japanese  Dooe. 


apart  two  of  their  own  number,  and  put  them 
under  nominal  appointment  as  missionaries  to 
Corea.  This  land  has  recently  been  opened 
to  European  intercourse  by  the  efforts  of  Ja- 
pan, when  all  other  powers  had  failed.  This 
is  the  spirit  of  which  Japan  is  begotten,  for 
the  first  |1,000  for  the  first  Protestant  church 
in  Japan  was  given  by  the  converts  from 
heathenism  in  the  Sandwich  Islands. 

CALLS  FROM  CITIES. 

This  spirit,  manifested  by  these  exception- 
al individuals,  extends  to  cities.  Great  cen- 
ters of  population,  where  the  people  are 
massed  by  the  hundred  thousand,  and  where 
we  have  no  missionary  to  point  to  the  Lamb 
of  God,  are  inviting  our  Superintendent  to 
send  them  some  men  to  teach  their  schools 
and  preach  the  word  of  life.  Many  of  these 
calls  are  made  in  vain. 

ISTagoya,  the  fourth  city  in  the  Empire,  an 
ancient  stronghold  of  Buddhism,  situated  at 
the  head  of  the  Owari  Bay,  an  important 
port  of  trade,  chief  city  of  the  ancient  Owari 

No.  6. 


The  Japanese  Dooe.  25 

country — almost  a sacred  city,  so  high  does 
it  stand  in  the  esteem  of  the  peojjle — is  ask- 
ing for  a teacher,  and  offering  strong  induce- 
ments. The  people  are  enterprising  and  in- 
dustrious, and  have  influence  in  the  jjolitics 
of  Japan.  About  fifteen  years  ago  the  local 
authorities  and  the  people  began  to  move  in 
the  work  of  education.  They  established  a 
medical  school,  and  put  it  in  the  care  of  a 
German.  They  also  opened  a high  school, 
and  employed  an  American  to  manage  it. 
These  schools  have  prospered  till  very  recent- 
ly. Owing  to  financial  pressure,  the  foreign 
teachers  have  been  discontinued.  Applica- 
tions, frequent  and  earnest,  have  been  made 
to  Dr.  Maclay,  our  Superintendent  in  J apan,  to 
send  a missionary  who  can  take  charge  of  the 
English  department  of  the  school.  He  will 
be  at  perfect  liberty  to  conduct  missionary 
work.  The  school  authorities  will  furnish 
him  a home  and  pay  from  $600  to  $800  of  his 
salary.  They  want  a married  man  and  his 
wife.  The  Western  family  ideas  are  no  bar 
in  Japan.  The  cost  of  a man  and  his  wife 

No.  6. 


26 


The  Japanese  Door. 


would  not  be  more  than  $500  or  $600  beyond 
this  olfer  of  the  native  authorities. 

The  above  is  one  specimen  out  of  many. 
Hamamatsu,  with  its  150,000  inhabitants,  Mat- 
sushiro,  and  other  great  cities  offer  condi- 
tions essentially  as  promising.  In  all  of  these 
cities  the  Japanese  have  organized  schools  in 
the  Japanese  language,  and  they  desire  a for- 
eign teacher  for  the  English  department. 
They  will  give  him  full  opportunity  for  mis- 
sion work.  Up  to  this  time  thei-e  is  no  Prot- 
estant work  organized  in  any  of  these  places, 
and  our  own  society  has  been  unable  to  enter 
these  doors  because  we  had  neither  the  money 
nor  the  men. 

From  Hirosaki  comes  a most  pitiful  cry. 
This  is  a city  of  40,000  inhabitants.  It  is  in 
the  northern  part  of  Japan,  400  miles  north 
of  Yokohama.  In  this  city  a school  was  es- 
tablished in  1872  by  an  old  Daimio,  a sort  of 
feudal  duke.  Five  young  men  came  from 
this  school  to  Indiana  Asbury  University, 
four  of  whom  are  still  in  their  studies  there, 
one  having  died.  At  times  400  students  have 

No.  6. 


The  Japanese  Door.  27 

been  gathered  at  this  center.  It  is  chiefly 
patronized  by  the  military  or  aristocratic 
class.  It  has  both  a high  school  and  a med- 
ical school.  Down  to  the  present  hour  we 
have  not  been  able  to  take  and  hold  these 
places. 

Such  doors  can  hardly  be  duplicated  in  all 
human  history.  It  seems  too  bad  that  for  the 
lack  of  a few  dollars  these  magnificent  oppor- 
tunities should  pass  away ! May  God  send 
us  help  ! 

NOW  OR  NEVER. 

These  doors  will  not  always  remain  open. 
Romanism,  which  is  baptized  heathenism,  is 
crowding  forward  with  all  her  energy.  She 
knows  that  these  centers  are  forts,  and  that 
the  party  that  gains  possession  first  is  sure  to 
control  the  country. 

The  Greek  Church,  which  is  only  a little 
better  than  the  Roman  Church,  has  in  this 
field  and  in  China  its  only  Foreign  Missions  ; 
and  it  is  pushing  its  work  with  all  the  zeal  of 
a new  experience.  Skeptical  and  atheistic 

No.  6. 


28 


The  Japanese  Door. 


teachers  are  crowding  into  the  public  schools. 
Thus  they  are  poisoning  even  the  heathen 
mind. 

People  have  broken  away  from  their  old 
dead  faith,  and  they  must  have  something  to 
put  in  the  place  of  it.  Japan  will  be  won  by 
somebody.  She  is  now  emjjty,  swept,  and 
garnished.  If  we  keep  the  Master  away, 
seven  spirits  worse  than  heathenism  itself 
will  enter  in,  and  the  last  state  of  this  great, 
heroic,  enterprising  people  will  be  worse  than 
the  first. 

Japan  is  calling  over  the  sea.  We  must 
make  answer.  By  and  by  we  must  hand  in 
our  answer  for  insj)ection  in  the  great  day. 
As  we  are  prospered  let  us  give.  This  great 
Asiatic  nation  has  an  especial  regard  for  us. 
Let  us  not  disappoint  them  ! They  ask  for 

bread,  let  us  not  give  them  a stone. 

No.  6. 


